In Search Of Ruritania The life and times of Ivor Novello AVAILABLE AT BOOKSTORES AND ONLINE This is not a sentimental journey - more a fascinating insight into the life, work and world of the late Ivor Novello |
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| Please Note: Copyright exists on all images and files used or displayed on this site. Permission must be sought from the copyright owner/s. All Rights Reserved. United Kingdom - United States of America - and International Laws apply. Copyright Contact |
| The Post Card "Heartwrenching...unsinkable!" The Independent |
| "This is old Ireland, Milkwood style..." Derby Telegraph |
| Images, reviews and cast details from productions of the stage plays listed. Please click on the Plays link in the navigation bar to access these areas. |
| Nora Connelly as Bridie in the London production of The Post Card |
| Lee Wolstenholme as Ted in the Buxton production of Forever Nineteen |
| Tim Bohannon as Patrick and Julia Stubbs as Mary in the Manchester production of The Post Card |
| NOVELLO GALLERY Selection of Novello's personal photographs from Glamorous Night (1935) now permanently displayed in the West End's new Novello Theatre - These photographs are also featured in the book In Search Of Ruritania |
Mary Ellis as Militza and Ivor Novello as Anthony in Glamorous Night (1935) Theatre Royal, Drury Lane |
| FOREVER NINETEEN |
| AFTER THE TONE |
| Kristin Scott Thomas, Jeremy Northam, Alan Bates, Bob Balaban, Kelly MacDonald and Dame Maggie Smith in Gosford Park |
| "High Class - students so at ease with timeless tunes... " (Robin Duke) Link to musical productions... Into The Woods, History of the Musicals, The Boy Friend, Fosse... |
| Great research resource for plays and playwrights and much more.... |
| Anything But Merry! The life and times of Lily Elsie AVAILABLE AT BOOKSTORES & ONLINE A new book by David Slattery-Christy exploring the life and times of the Edwardian actress Lily Elsie, the star of Lehar's original West End production of The Merry Widow in 1907. |
| "[A] biography which is the result of extensive research... I found this an intriguing reappraisal of a former theatre idol whom I had tended to dismiss..." Tom Howard - Rogues & Vagabonds |
| "An absorbing and thoroughly engaging read, and a must-own for fans of Altman's film looking to learn more about Novello and his work... Excellent look at both the man and the legend of Ivor Novello, with special insights into the filming of the late Robert Altman's brilliant film "Gosford Park" straight from the film's Ivor Novello consultant." Tara O'Shea - Chicago |
| "This new biography delves much deeper into Novello’s life than its predecessors. While this may have alienated those who prefer to remember Novello as fragrantly as his famous lilacs, I found it to be well-researched and thought-provoking. Novello’s output is analysed in the cold light of a new century, and within a theatrical context which is markedly different to the one in which his shows were first produced... There are interesting accounts of interviews with Olive Gilbert’s nieces, Mary Ellis, Gordon Duttson (one of Novello’s partners who appeared in some of his shows) and Nicholas Hassall. The writer often uses a compelling style - the description of his first visit to Redroofs is akin to something out of ‘Rebecca’, and the tension is also built up during his work in the archives of Drury Lane... What will disturb some Novello fans are the sections which deal with his sexuality. I found this information an essential part in building up a rounded picture of Novello as a human being... This revealing biography is a useful and well- researched addition to other books on Ivor Novello: one which is not afraid to cover all areas of his life." David Wheeler - The Gaiety Magazine |
| Discover the extraordinary life of one of Edwardian England’s most celebrated and revered musical comedy stars, Lily Elsie. From her childhood days in the music halls of Salford and her rise to fame as the child singing star “Little Elsie” (hailed by press and public as “the infant Patti”, after the world famous opera star Adelina Patti) to her arrival in London as a young woman with an almost reluctant desire to conquer the West End stage, her ever-present mother urging her to make the most of every opportunity... |
| Guide To Mary Ellis Papers - 1897 - 2003 Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Library for the Performing Arts. Includes Glamorous Night adaptation script and correspondence with David Slattery-Christy |
| Selected links for research information |
| Glamorous Night Book & Music: Ivor Novello Lyrics by : Christopher Hassall Revised version by: David Slattery-Christy By arrangement with Samuel French Ltd |
| Film history, book recommendations and much more... |
| "David Slattery-Christy has researched his work diligently. He tells Lily's story clearly and dispassionately...his book is an important contribution to our understanding of Edwardes and the Gaiety Girls, one of the most glittering periods of London's theatre history." Richard Anthony Baker - The Stage |
| "The characters around Elsie are capably brought to life... a good, dramatic, read and you will end up knowing Elsie by the end." Rob Sedman - lily-elsie.com |
| Luton Girls Choir sing Novello's Someday My Heart Will Awake Click on image for link to YouTube |
Manchester Evening News Glamorous Night Review 28/9/08: "Strong story of an English journalist who falls for a prima donna with political ambitions. To add to the colourfulness, she's a Carmen-like gypsy girl and a star of the State Opera and the mistress of the King of Krasnia...Sarah Potts was outstanding in the central role of Miltza..." |
| Present Company, regular performers at Buxton Opera House since 1988, have made revivals of musicals and operettas a speciality. Audiences have been delighted by lavish shows with large casts of singers and dancers by Ivor Novello, Franz Lehar, Romburg and Noel Coward. |
Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow Present Company will bring a new staging of this glittering operetta to Buxton Opera House on the 15 and 16 January 2010. |
| Present Company Presents - 2010 |
| The Merry Widow |
| British Pathe News - Gaiety Girls Reunion, London 1947 Click Here! |
| The Merry Widow Vienna Music Click Here! |
| Present Company reprise their successful Buxton production of this new adaptation of Glamorous Night by David Slattery-Christy an award-winning writer and Novello Consultant on the OSCAR and BAFTA winning film Gosford Park. |
| GLAMOROUS NIGHT performances at the newly reopened Derby Theatre on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th February 2010 @ 7.30 - Saturday 20th February 2010 @ 2.30 and 7.30. On Friday 19th February there will be a concert of music and songs from the classic musicals of the 20s and 30s |
| Manchester Award for Drama Forever Nineteen and Les Miserables 1992 |
| From the Ivor Novello Consultant for Robert Altman's OSCAR and BAFTA winning film GOSFORD PARK |
